Floor hoist

ABSTRACT

A low profile portable hydraulic hoist for handling heavy structures in cramped quarters. It includes a castered frame, a pivoted arm mounted on the frame and an adjustable head means mounted on the end of the arm for holding the structure to be moved. Hydraulic cylinders are used to elevate the arm and tilt the head, which may also be manually rotated.

United States Patent Street, Santa Paula, Calif. 93060 [22 Filed:April2l,l971

[21] Appl. No.: 136,022

[52] US. Cl ..2l4/768, 214/778, 214/] D [51] Int.C1. ..E02f 3/00 [58]Field of Search ..2l4/l40, 768, 778, 652, 149,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,024,933 3/1962 Albert..2l4/768- X 3,549,031 12/1970 Blood ..2l4/652 3,087,630 4/1963 Karnow..2l4/1 D Waters 1 51 Oct. 24, 1972 1541 FLOOR HOIST 3,484,004 12/1969Hughey "214/11: .[72] Inventor: James waters, 356 Princeton 2,785,8073/1 57 Prowinsky 214/1 D Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza AssistantExaminer.1ohn Mannix Attorney-Richard S. Sciasc'ia, Gayward N. Mann anQ. Baxter Warner [57] ABSTRACT 7 Claims 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHBT24I912 3100.132

sum 1 OF 2 JAMES R. WATERS INVENTOR FLOOR HOIST STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENTINTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured and used byor for the Government of the United States of America for governmentalpurposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention'relates generally to lifting equipment and more particularlyto a hydraulic hoist for manipulating heavy objects in cramped quarters.

2. Description of the Prior Art The lifting and removal of heavyequipment has always involved many problems due primarily to the crampedspace in which the devices needed for handling purposes must beemployed. Most of the hoists which have been developed are too bulky andare not sufficiently adaptable to remove such heavy structures. Thepresent invention, however, being of low profile and of highadaptability, may be used in most situations where other equipment cannot be employed.

SUMMARY OF'THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention involves apowerful floor hoist useful in heavy equipment shops, garages, ordnanceshops, etc. The device is low profiled and includes a castered frame, aload raising arm pivotally attached to the frame and an adjustableadapter connected to the arm for engaging and hoisting heavy objectssuch as truck transmissions or the like. Hydraulic cylinders are used toelevate or lower the arm and to tilt the adapter, which may also bemanually rotated.

STATEMENT OF THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an objectof the present invention to provide a hoist of high reliability, lowcost and great adaptability.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hoist of verylow profile to permit utilization in confined quarters.

Still another object'is to provide a hoist which will allow safe removalof truck differentials without damage thereto.

Another object is to provide a hoist in which the tilt and hoistmechanisms may be independently operated.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of the inventionwhen considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofthe hoist in a partially raised position. a

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the hoist of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the index plate but with a portionbroken away.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view showing the details of the adjustablestructure used engaging a heavy object.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view similar to FIG. 3, but with aportion broken away.

, I DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularlyto the drawings, the in- I vention comprises an elongated frameconstructed preferably of a pair of spaced tubular members 12 which aresubstantially in parallel relationship. A tubular cross member 14 iswelded or otherwise secured to I one end 16 of members 12 and anupwardly and rearwardly projecting support bracket 18 is mounted on thecross member 14 between members 12. A flat support plate 20 is mountedto the undersurfaces of members 12 contiguous to cross member 14. Bothmembers 12 have end plates 22 and 24 secured thereto on which aremounted swivel casters 26.

An elongate hoist arm 28 is pivotally mounted at its lower end to thelower end of support bracket 18 welded to cross member 14. The oppositeend of arm 28 is pivotally connected to a tiltable and rotatable headassembly by pin 33 received in spaced bosses 34; the bosses in turn arewelded to the rear face of tilt plate 35.

A hydraulic tilt cylinder 30 is mounted on the end of arm 28 andcontains a piston rod 38 which latter extends axially of the cylinder.The outer end of the piston rod bears a roller bar 40 (FIG. 4)supporting two rollers 42. The rollers are aligned with and are adaptedto move along a pair of spaced parallel curved tracks 44 secured to therear face of tilt plate 35.

The means of operating the hydraulic mechanism for piston rod 38includes a tilt pump assembly and oil of tilt plate 35 by a series ofbolts and nuts 46 and 48,

face plate-49 serving as a mounting base for a rotatable index platecentrally journalled thereon at hub portion 56. Between face plate 49and index plate 60 are a series of peripherally located rollers 50suitably mounted on the front face of face plate 49 by means of rollerpins 52 received in spaced cheeks 54.

The index plate 60 may be in the form of a round flat disc as shown andis preferably provided with a series of spaced peripherally locatedholes 66 by which the angle shaped fork members 62 may be adjustablymounted utilizing the tie bolts 64.

Index plate 60 is mounted on hub 56 and is caused to rotate about suchhub by a simple screw and nut mechanism. Such an arrangement is shown indetail in FIG. 3 where a portion of the index plate 60 is shown brokenaway to expose a screw 86 supported on face plate 49 by lug 88 which ispivotally mounted on the front surface of face plate 49. The outer endof the screw is provided with a hexagonal head 90 to receive a socketwrench or crank by which the screw may-be rotated. Collar 92 retains theparts in juxtaposition.

The inner end of screw 86 is threaded through a nut 94 which ispivotally supported on the inside face of index plate 60. Thus it willbe seen that rotation of screw 86 rotates index plate 60 about itscentral pivot 56.

A hoist cylinder 68 may be pivotally secured at one end to the top ofsupport bracket 18 by journal 70 and pin 71. The hoist piston rod 72 ispivotally connected by pin 74 to cheek brackets 76'welded or otherwisesecured to the top portion of the hoist arm 28. Hoist cylinder 68 isemployed to elevate and lower the hoist arm 28 and thus similarly moveany attached structure including index plate 60 with the connected forkmembers 62.

To actuate hoist cylinder 68, a hoist pump assembly and associatedreservoir 78 is mounted on support plate 20 and is operated by a handle80, thereby providing hydraulic pressure to hoist cylinder 68 throughlines 82 and 84 to actuate piston rod 72 into or out of cylinder 68.Such movement will effect the required up or down movement of hoist arm28. Both pump assemblies 67 and 78 include a hydraulic valve 79permitting return of the oil to the reservoir.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A low profile hydraulic hoist assembly capable of being positioned inan area having cramped space restrictions comprising:

an elongated andwheeled frame adapted to be easily positioned in saidcramped area;

a lifting arm pivotally mounted at the inner end to said framework andwith the outer end adapted to extend into an area above said frame;

hydraulic means for raising the lifting arm and causing the outer endthereof to elevate;

a load engaging head assembly pivotally mounted to the outer end of saidlifting arm;

hydraulic means for effecting tilt movement to said head assembly, saidmeans mounted on the outer end of said lifting arm and adapted to extendcoaxially with the longitudinal axis of said lifting arm; and

means for allowing rotation of a portion of said head assembly about acentral axis.

2. The hoist as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said means for effecting tilt movement of the head includes a tiltcylinder mounted axially on the outer end of the lifting arm and a tiltpump assembly to provide pressure to said cylinder,

said cylinder containing a piston rod adapted to extend axially out ofthe cylinder, and

means pivotally connecting the outer end of said tilt cylinder to saidload engaging head whereupon movement of said piston rod will cause atilting motion to be imparted to the head with respect to the axis ofsaid lifting arm and tilt cylinder.

3. The hoist as defined in claim 2 wherein: sai means pivotallyconnecting the outer end of said 4. The hoist as definedin claim 1wherein the hydraulic means for pivoting the lifting arm includes:v

a hoist cylinder pivotally mounted at one end to the frame,

a hoist cylinder piston rod pivotally connected to the lifting arm and,hoist cylinder pump means to provide pressure to said hoist cylinderwhereupon movement of the hoist cylinder piston.

rod will provide vertical movement to said lifting arm. 5. The hoist asdefined in claim 3 wherein the rotatable load engaging head comprises:

a tilt plate to which said pair of curved and parallel tracks aresecured and which cooperates with said rollers mounted on the tiltcylinder piston rod to provide tilting movement to the head assembly;

a face plate mounted upon said'tilt plate for tilting movementtherewith;

an index plate rotatably supported on said face plate having a series ofspaced and peripherally located apertures therein;

means interconnecting said face plate and said index plate, said meansbeing adjustable to allow rotation therebetween about their commoncentralaxis; and

angle shaped supporting members mounted in the apertures.

6. The hoist as defined in claim 5 wherein said means adjustablyinterconnecting said face plate and said index plate includes a nut andbolt arrangement in which the nut is attached to said index plate andthe bolt is threadedly engaged with said nut, the bolt being secured tosaid face plate;

thus upon rotation of the bolt suitable rotation is provided to theindex plate. 7. The hoist as defined in claim 3 wherein said angleshaped supporting members are in the form of forks.

1. A low profile hydraulic hoist assembly capable of being positioned inan area having cramped space restrictions comprising: an elongated andwheeled frame adapted to be easily positioned in said cramped area; alifting arm pivotally mounted at the inner end to said framework andwith the outer end adapted to extend into an area above said frame;hydraulic means for raising the lifting arm and causing the outer endthereof to elevate; a load engaging head assembly pivotally mounted tothe outer end of said lifting arm; hydraulic means for effecting tiltmovement to said head assembly, said means mounted on the outer end ofsaid lifting arm and adapted to extend coaxially with the longitudinalaxis of said lifting arm; and means for allowing rotation of a portionof said head assembly about a central axis.
 2. The hoist as defined inclaim 1 wherein: said means for effecting tilt movement of the headincludes a tilt cylinder mounted axially on the outer end of the liftingarm and a tilt pump assembly to provide pressure to said cylinder, saidcylinder containing a piston rod adapted to extend axially out of thecylinder, and means pivotally connecting the outer end of said tiltcylinder to said load engaging head whereupon movement of said pistonrod will cause a tilting motion to be imparted to the head with respectto the axis of said lifting arm and tilt cylinder.
 3. The hoist asdefined in claim 2 wherein: said means pivotally connecting the outerend of said tilt cylinder to the head includes a bracket and pinarrangement attaching the outer end of said tilt cylinder to the loadengaging head in a movable relationship, a pair of rollers attached tothe outer end of the cylinder piston rod, and a pair of curved paralleltracks secured to the load engaging head, said rollers adapted to moveon the tracks when the piston rod to which they are attached moves inand out of said tilt cylinder, thus causing said tilting motion to beimparted to the head.
 4. The hoist as defined in claim 1 wherein thehydraulic means for pivoting the lifting arm includes: a hoist cylinderpivotally mounted at one end to the frame, a hoist cylinder piston rodpivotally connected to the lifting arm and, hoist cylinder pump means toprovide pressure to said hoist cylinder whereupon movement of the hoistcylinder piston rod will provide vertical movement to said lifting arm.5. The hoist as defined in claim 3 wherein the rotatable load engaginghead comprises: a tilt plate to which said pair of curved and paralleltracks are secured and which cooperates with said rollers mounted on thetilt cylinder piston rod to provide tilting movement to the headassembly; a face plate mounted upon said tilt plate for tilting movementtherewith; an index plate rotatably supported on said face plate havinga series of spaced and peripherally located apertures therein; meansinterconnecting said face plate and said index plate, said means beingadjustable to allow rotation therebetween about their common centralaxis; and angle shaped supporting members adjustably mounted in theapertures.
 6. The hoist as defined in claim 5 wherein said meansinterconnecting said face plate and said index plate includes a nut andbolt arrangement in which the nut is attached to said index plate andthe bolt is threadedly engaged wIth said nut, the bolt being secured tosaid face plate; thus upon rotation of the bolt suitable rotation isprovided to the index plate.
 7. The hoist as defined in claim 3 whereinsaid angle shaped supporting members are in the form of forks.